Cone type loud speaker



June 9, 1931. w. H. BRISTOL ET AL 1,809,578

com TYPE LOUD SPEAKER Filed April 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .W'T" [un lllllllllllllllll IN V EN TORS Frank/m 18. B115 to].

Imam H lstol.

4 .ATTORNEY June 9, 1931. w. H. BRISTOL ET AL GONE TYPE LOUD SPEAKER Filed April 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Frank/m BBmsfol. William H.

[5 ns fol.

A TTORNEY Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. BRISTOL AND FRANKLIN B. BRISTOL, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, AS- SIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO WM. II. BRISTOL TALKING PICTURE COB- PORATION, OF WfaTERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT CONE TYPE LOUD SPEAKER Application filed April 10,

The invention relates to electrical loud speaker apparatus, more particularly of the so-called cone type employing a conically shaped sounding membrane to which is connected a reciprocatory rod actuated from standard electrical receiver mechanism,

The invention has for its object to so mount the same that it may readily and conveniently be removed or replaced by another; and, also, to afiord a bell effect by having the cone member substantially unsupported along its edge or base. This allows, inthe sale of such speakers, of a purchaser of the speaker apparatus selecting one cone of particular design from among a number of cones, the cone of desired design being quickly in stalled if necessary to effect a replacement. A dealer may thus keep on hand a considerable stock of the cones of various designs as they need not be mounted in the apparatus until a sale is made, and the cones may also be stored compactly as by nesting the same. Another object of the invention, especially Where the cone material is translucent, is to illuminate the same from the interior so that the design thereon may more strikingly be brought out. A further object of the invention consists in certain features of construction whereby a mechanical steadying or slight damping action may be imparted to the cone member, and also to its actuating rod.

Thenature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the novel speaker apparatus with a portion of the cone member broken away to disclose the interior, a suitable design being indicated as applied to the outer face of the cone.

Fig.2 is a vertical transverse section thru the apparatus; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail vertical section of the apex portion of the cone, the actuating rod and the means for securing the same rigidly together.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a circular frame mounted on a suitable base and having spider arms 11 terminating in a central support for the electrical receiver mechanism 12, which latter may be of any 1926. Serial No. 101,064.

well-known or special type and is adapted to i impart reciprocatory movement to an actuating rod 13. This rod is arranged to ex- .tend outwardly in the axis of the supportfixed part of the apparatus, it will be manifest that only a'limited number of designs would be available, whereas, with the pres ent arrangement, which permits readyreplacement of the comparatively inexpensive cone portion, a large variety of cones may be kept in stock and from which a purchaser may make the selection of the particular de sign desired. The cone 14 having the desired design 15 thereon may then quickly and readily be installed in the apparatus. When the material composing the cone is of a more or less translucent nature, pleasing effects may be obtained by introducing behind the same suitable illuminating means, as the electric lamps 16 which may be carried by the arms 11. With the great variety of lamp shades or cones possible under the novel arrangement, many striking effects may be obtained.

In order to quickly and readily enable a cone to be installed, each cone is provided at its apex with a pair of metal and conical washers 20 and 21, the former being mounted over the outer surface whilethe latter is fitted into the apex over the inner surface and preferably attached thereto by an adhesive. The two said washers are to be held together in clamping the cone portion therebetween, as by means of a sleeve 22 which passes axially thru the washers and apex of the cone and has a shoulder 23 at the outer portion abutting the outer washer, and its inner end threaded to receive a nut 24 working thereover and which is drawn up to lock the Washers to the apex of the cone.

At the same time, the sleeve 22 provides a bearing for the outer end of the rod which is intended to pass through the bearing sleeve and to be secured thereto as by a thumb screw 25 passing through the said sleeve at right angles to the said rod. By this expedient, the cone member 14 becomes rigidly attached to the rod which thus supports and carries the same, but in such a manner that this connection may quickly and readily be disestablished-it being understood that the base of the cone is substantially free and unattached to the frame.

It is preferred, however, to provide means for checking or slightly damping undue vibrations of the said edge; and to this end, a plurality of pads 26, of soft material such as felt, are distributed at equal intervals circularly about the frame and extend outwardly toward the edge of the cone in close proximity thereto. These pads thus serve to steady the action without unduly hampering the free vibration of the cone which is intended to operate substantially as a bell member. It has been found desirable, furthermore, to prevent any tendency of the somewhat extended rod to whip; and to this end, a piece of tubing 27 of resilient material such as rubber or so -called spaghetti may be placed over a portion of the rod between the apex and the receiver mechanism.

We claim 1. A cone type loud speaker, comprising a circular spider supporting frame, actuating mechanism mounted thereon, a reciprocatory rod adapted to be actuated thereby and extending substantially in the axis of the frame, a. sound producing cone-shaped member mounted upon and carried by the rod with its mouth directed toward the actuating mechanism and covering substantially the front of the frame and having its edge unattached and free thereof to be freely removable from the front of said frame and to admit of ready substitution of the coneshaped member, and means to removably secure the cone member at its apex to the rod.

2. A. cone type loud speaker, comprising a circular spider supporting frame, actuating mechanisn'i mounted thereon, a reciprocatory rod adapted to be actuated thereby and extending substantially in the axis of the frame, a sound reproducing cone-shaped member mounted upon and carried by the rod with its mouth directed toward the actuating mechanism and covering substantially the front of the frame and having its edge unattached and free thereof to be freely removable from the front of said frame to permit of ready substitution of the cone-shaped member, a plurality of felt pads spaced equi distantly around the circular frame and upon which the edge of the cone member is adapted lightly to rest and to be slightly damped thereby, and means to removably secure the cone member at 1ts apex to the rod.

u. A cone type loud speaker, comprising a circular spider supporting frame, actuating mechanism mounted thereon, a reciprocatory rod adapted to be actuated thereby and extending substantially in the axis of the frame, a sound reproducing cone-shaped member mounted upon and carried by the rod with its edge unattached to and substantially free of the frame, means to removably secure the cone member at its apex to the rod, and a tube of resilient material fitting over the portion of the rod between the receiver mechanism and the apex of the cone member but under no stress longitudinally of the rod.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

WVILLIAM H. BRISTOL. FRANKLIN B. BRISTOL. 

